Summer of Seven: D.I.Y
"Get in, get in, get in!" Anna hustled at Remy.
"Hurry the hell up Cajun!" she scream in anger leaning over to the drivers side she honked the car horn repeatedly. "Come on!"
"Don't twist your panties chere, looking this good is full time job." He smiled as he ran a comb threw his hair.
"You can do that in the car now we're going to be late! Ughhh" Anna sat restlessly in the passger seat, while Remy tried aimlessly to stuff all the bags into his sleek two door car.
"You are such a woman I can't believe you have all those bags." Anna folded her arms at Remy comments.
"If this is suppose to work, I will need the bags."
"No you will need to learn how to smile I'm sure it's…something." Remy made a twisting mocking face.
"Do you ever stop being an asshole?" Anna rolled her eyes, when Remy entered the car.
"I do…when the lights are on, or isn't that the plan still?" Remy buckled his seat belt more annoyed at all the driving he will have to do.
"Just drive and look cute that's all you have to do." Anna turned her ipod on and put in her headphones. Attempting to drown out her thoughts before realization of what she was planning to do sunk in.
"Geeze now I know why Mercy didn't want to drive us home she sensed the inner bitch." Remy mumbled to himself, but Anna heard, her eyes grew bright and lips got tight as she pinched and twisted the tender flesh of Remy's neck.
"Ouch!" Remy slapped his neck, missing Anna's hand. "Son of a bitch!"
A coy grin grew on Anna's face followed by a low laughter.
Remy kept mumbling swear words, and turned up the radio to Anna's least favorite station just to piss her off…
'And here we go my X-men.' The gossip queen spoke closely into the radio mic 'Today is the day our little Kitty grows up and gets married, who would have thought that she would be the next in line to get married at such a young age? Goodness it makes me feel like an old woman. But here is the question I put to you my listeners, will a goddess show up? Will it be a full family union Rebels, Sweetcakes and all or a lonely reception for the bride and groom?'
Tick.
Tock.
Another second felt like an eternity. Ororo weaved her fingers in her curled hair. Time was winding down and her decision wasn't getting any easier.
What should have been a happy day left Ororo in a sweat. The family's second youngest sister was getting married. Young Pretty Kitty might have been the last to be adopted of the seven sisters but she accelerated fast, more advanced mentally then half her sisters. She had just turned twenty-one and she was marring her pre teen sweetheart Peter Rasputin.
Pacing outside a quant Chicago city church, Ororo dabbled to herself. She had vowed never to lay a foot in the Church or so much as fold a napkin in the aid of Kitty's wedding as so long as Jean remained her maid of honor. Ororo made her thoughts known to her family about how she really felt about Jean, not that they could blame her for hostility. With the rest of the sisters supporting her it was near impossible to tell who would show up for the quaint seventy five guest wedding. Tension only doubled after Anna's accidental betrayal just days prior to the wedding. The family and closeness of the sisters was in chaotic mess.
'I for one vote it's too soon for Ororo to show up to a wedding even if it's her sister weddings. Actually I don't think that's as important, I don't know if everyone has forgotten but the Russian stud Kitty is marrying is also buddy buddy with Logan, will he have an invitation mmhmmm…stay tuned I got breaking news next.'
Ororo didn't see any of her sisters appear and she was damned if she was going to make a hypocrite of herself alone.
Tick.
The minute hand moved again on the massive over head clock. Time was escaping her, now twenty past two with the wedding starting in ten minutes.
Even after Anna left a convincing message on Ororo's phone attempting to explain what had really happened in that bar that night in New Orleans. She went on to say that she was alright but wouldn't be returning to the LeBeau Mansion but would attend Kitty's wedding. It sounded nothing like the Anna she knew, but Ororo needed her sister and forced herself to believe the happy go lucky tone in Anna's voice and her ever so convenient explanation of why she exposed her family's woes to the world. Four days had passed since the message and Ororo hadn't heard a word from any of her sisters.
Highway something or another:
Back in the car, Remy yawned after hours of driving they were almost there. Still listening to the radio Remy got a sense of the drama that surround Anna's family, but more so the negative mocking view the media had of Anna. If they only knew he thought to himself, He glanced over at Anna sleeping against her window.
"If you're going to do something right do it well." He told himself.
Slowly not to make a sound Remy picked up his phone and made one important and possibly damaging phone call.
"Hello?" he answered. "It's a loyal X-men calling with interesting news"
'Gather around my X-men and let the Queen of gossip tell you the exclusive three… The collective DJ took a breath for a dramatic pause. One: Logan will not I repeat will not being making an appearance at tonight festivities, he's taken yup yet another tour of duty which we know is code for his din-a-ling is in someone new!'
Outside a Chicago Church:
With a minute and thirty seconds left to spare Ororo filled her lungs to maximum capacity and held her breath. Her blue eyes fell to the back of her head with, leaving a only the white to be shown. She pushed her pride aside and with a heavy heart Ororo's moist hands forced the cold rusty doors of the Church open.
Duuuuuum the echo of the twelve foot brass doors awakened the already seated guest.
'Is that the Shocking news? No but bit number two sure is. After our Rebel Anna got drunk in a southern dive and aired all of Ororo's dirty laundry out to the world about how umm I don't, Jean actually seduced Logan and ruined our goddess' life! You can find the video clip on my web page fyi. She has the balls to rsvp to the wedding event, even at how things had turned. I guess there really isn't anyone you can trust - not even family it seems. I know I said before that Ororo should keep away but she should go and take control. Sometimes you just gotta Do It Yourself.'
Six inch stiletto heel clashed with the antique wood flooring. The white carpet was already rolled out and it hit her that it wasn't her time. Ororo was not near ready to face the scene where her ability to love had been crucified. Her soul was empty and it was visible from the absent expression on her face. It didn't stop her from standing tall, though, with her head held high. One foot in front of another, she glided down the alley as if it was her own private runway. Tears began to swell in the back of her eyes, reminisces of her bitter wedding took her mind. Suddenly the front of church seemed to be decades away.
'And the finale piece of juicy news you ask? I have the location of the wedding and reception oh yes my X-men you heard correctly. Who's your Queen!'
A cold calmly hand reached out from the front row and pulling the broken goddess in.
"Took you long enough." Ali said in a huff.
When Ali leaned back into bench, her eyes locked forward, her mouth was tense and her arms rested on her chest. It couldn't be clearer that Ali didn't want to be there. She didn't even bother to explain what she herself was doing there to a confused Ororo.
Along side Ali was the rest of family in order Tessa sat next her, followed by Jubilee, Scott then their mother Alextrandra.
"Where's Anna?" Ali smirked. She had a theory going the Anna ran to escape going back to the hospital. "Seeing how no one has seen her in days I bet she's half way to Canada by now."
Ororo didn't respond to Ali's bitter mood she knew better then fuel Ali's fire when she was angry.
"I take it you haven't seen the papers." Ali continued when Ororo remained quite. "The press is loving the video of her calling Jean and whore not to mention…you know what I'm not getting into it. I will say Dad and Mom are worried. I told you we should have sent her off when we first heard the news; Now she's off running around, losing her touch with reality again."
"Shhh." Ororo stopped her chatty sister. "She was drunk and it's in the past."
"Four days barely counts as the past. How do we know she's not passed out in a ditch or-"
"This is where you stop talking…"Ororo's blue eyes gave Ali a warning and silenced her "The wedding is starting."
A harpist and pianist strung a cord as the side door on the left side of the church opened unannounced.
In walked Anna hand in hand with a soave new beau. Her sharp tight skin and navy blue dress got envious glares but it was her tall well suited date with his dark tined glass held every woman's breathe. Anna gave a brief wave to the family in the front row of the right hand side of the church and took an open seat on the groom side. While the model on her arm dedicated a sloppy grin to elderly a diplomat in the same row. Remy was always good at getting attention.
"ohh." The old woman summed.
"Who's that?" Jubilee's jaw stopped chewing her berry blast gum. "Yummy."
"He's too old for you." Scott pinched Jubilee for her juvenile antics.
"Remy LeBeau lives." Tessa raised a brow. "He looks good."
"So does Anna, she's actually smiling." Ororo bowed her head towards her happy looking sister letting her know that she held no hard feelings for what happened previously in the South.
Anna smiled back and took a seat in time to see the formal walk of the groom.
Peter had been cleaned up well in his solid black tux. He stood bright and proud, and seeing his bride-to-be sisters seated in the front row gave him joy to see that they had set aside their differences for Kitty's big day.
The classic here comes the bride played, and at the bottom of the alley Kurt Wagner, a good friend of Peter's, took Jean's milky hand in his own. Her long strapless A-line light pink dress clung to her body. Daggers glared at her from all her sisters and vigorous other woman who didn't care for her desperate display at Ororo's wedding.
She doubled her speed in fear of the judging eyes only to find the most concerning eyes in the front row. Ororo sat with her legs crossed like the lady she was, and she had pulled a pair of pitch black sunglasses out of her clutch and placed them on her gorgeous face, facing front, she gave Jean her full devotion completely.
Humiliation ran through Jean. she became jittery as if she was going to cry at the slightest moment. The white lilies in her shook in her weak grasp.
"Please rise." The priest voice was authoritative commanding his congregation.
"And here we go." Ororo gripped Ali's wrist and pouted out her lips, in annoyance and in a bit of anger.
Taking the long traditional route head rolled as the priest babbled on, dragging out the typical hour long ceremony to a staggering three hours. Bored to almost tears the crowed barely stayed awake long enough to see the Kitty and Peter kiss. The news that they had to walk to reception area seemed like a blessing after being seated for hours.
The small congregation of roughly seventy people gathered themselves and walked over to the reception area in smaller clusters. Being only a few blocks from the church the guest didn't mind but the clutter of paparazzi was a nuisance they didn't care for.
Suits and festive dresses were captured for their adoring fans by the surprisingly large population of paparazzi. Live pictures streamed the social sites by the minute.
'Maybe I shouldn't have spilled the beans about the wedding location and reception but I didn't want my X-men to miss anything I mean I wouldn't be the Queen of Gossip if I didn't give you all the latest.' The beyond excited DJ gloated about her work.
Struggling to keep up with her sisters Jubilee wobbled in her heels against the slope of the sidewalk. Ororo, Ali and Tessa stood at the curb watching the well-dressed people walk down the sidewalk, while awaiting their slow paced sister. Flashes flickered as to be expected but the one thing that caught their eye more then anything else, was Anna and her guest.
"They're fucking." Ali spoke up quick to judge that Anna was loosing it once again.
"No they're not." Ororo slapped her sister's arm, yet she couldn't help but ask the same question herself.
"If she isn't then she should be." Tessa got into debate.
"They look absolutely perfectly sweet together I think." Jubilee was all putty from her sore feet but managed to pull together a googoo face for Remy.
Up the slope of the hill walking hand in hand Remy leaned in a whispered into Anna's ear.
"One call to that radio station and the world comes out for Xavier's." he saw the sea of camera on the opposite side of road.
"They act like we're royalty." Anna wrinkled her brows.
"You're more powerful then the typical royalty, you're urban royalty." Remy told her.
"You seem to know a lot."
"Grew up with it my whole life, I'm just a different royal." Remy's jaw locked at his comment he didn't want to continue the conversation. "Your sister is adorable chere."
Anna glanced up to see Jubilee unable to control herself, licking her lips at Remy non-stop. "Stuff it Cajun she's a minor, now just look cute and I will do the same."
"Well try harder, cause those guys," he meant the paparazzi "aren't buying it."
"What do you mean!" She fake brushed her hair and held Remy closer. "They totally are."
"If you say so…" Remy remained skeptical.
"What do you suggest then?"
"Let this Cajun think… we just have to be in the right position." Remy sped up and pulled them from the pedestrian side of the sidewalk to the traffic side, "Its all about angels chere." Anna shot up a 'what the fuck' look but Remy only smirked he lifted his foot and slipped it between Anna motioning feet.
"What the hell are you talking abouuuuuuut…. ahhhh uhhh" She stumbled and tripped over Remy's foot, and crashing into the concrete, she tore her stockings and scraped her knee.
"Ouhhh." Anna made an adorable painful face and the flashes blinded the sky.
She pouted on que as she saw her peeled back skin and droplets of blood as Remy predicted. He kneeled down to her side, positioning himself perfectly to get the attention of the cameras. He pulled the handkerchief out of his pocket and placed a corner of the white fabric onto his tongue before placing it gently on Anna's skidded knee.
"Seeeeeeeeh" she flinched.
With utter care Remy wiped the blood from her shin and glanced up at Anna. She was stunned but there was a hint of shyness behind her eyes like no one ever took the time to take care of her before.
Remy's hair fell forward to his face, his killer wolf grin peaked behind it. It was an unbelievable shot. One, only the infamous Remy LeBeau could master so effortlessly.
"You're a natural." Remy greeted her eyes.
"What?" Anna shook her head and snapped too. Taken in by the moment she almost didn't notice that Remy staged the moment and that it was not as intimate as it felt.
Adding in sweetest touch Remy reached down and placed his lips softly onto Anna's wounded shin. The moment had Anna, the gesture was unsuspecting and it felt amazing. Her face softened and her skin became flushed with the mob of cameras documenting it all.
"Told you! They look perfect together." Jubilee gloated. The rest of the sisters stared motionless with suspense.
"They're so fucking." Ali and Tessa said in union.
"Let's just get this day over with." Ororo concluded in a less then impressed tone.
An up scale bistro was closed down and restyled for the reception, low key and quaint was the theme of this traditional wedding. Guest were seated and the lights dimmed to signal the food was being served. With no official seating plan the guest chose their own seats surrounding the bridal party and the parents of a bride and groom. Two tables to the left of the bride sat the bride's sisters who went stag to union. Instead of toasting to the Bride, they bored questioning glares into the highly spirited Anna whom sat cuddled up next to Remy rubbing noses.
"So umm you gonna explain?" Ali couldn't contain herself any longer.
"What?" Anna smiled as Remy teased her neck.
"What? Are you serious, the hot Cajun dripping off your body care to explain when and why or you could explain the causal gossip of our family business in a random bar? Take your pick."
"When?" Remy's head popped up "Time plays no part in our affair and why? Why not." He picked up Anna's hand and swept his lips across her wrist just grazing the warmth across her delicate silk skin. To Anna's surprise she was blushing, his lips were moist and soft and he played as if he enjoyed holding and keeping her smiling.
"He's so precious isn't he?" Anna squeezed Remy's hand back.
Further prying questions were silenced with the arrival of the dinner. Not being to fool her sisters they studied the new couple intently trying to find flaws, but Remy and Anna matched beautifully, wiping crumbs from each others mouth, trading pieces of their food with one another all in between light polite chit chat with the rest of the table.
"That was delicious," Anna pushed her seat back and sighed. "Sure felt good to get a proper meal."
"You mean Remy didn't feed you?" Tessa spoke up in question, she only wanted to tease but stroke an actual nerve.
"She had all the OJ she could handle." Remy gave a sinister smile to the question.
"If you were never so selfish with it in the first place dear." Anna quartet back at Remy.
"Careful when mixing selfish into sentences it can sound self described."
Anna's eyes lost there thrive and were instantly filled with a cold hate. "Such a funny man you are sugar." She tapped his cheek deliberately and stared him down.
"It's why you picked me for my…humor." Remy stared back, the energy from their physical intensity left the table speechless, Anna's fellow sisters looked on afraid that the two might combust.
Taking a stand Remy said "Lets dance." He reached down picking up Anna's hand never breaking contact he kissed it and brought her up to his level. "Excuse us ladies." He pardoned both of them from the table and made their way to the dance floor.
The open back of Anna's hot navy dress, left her stunning as she walked away. Heads at the table cocked at her lean posture and Remy's descending hand to the curve of her ass.
"That was interesting." Tessa broke the ice.
"They are fucking hardcore, the control he had on her is crazy like…wow just yeah." Ali made a know it all face and took a sip of her wine.
"Well I'm happy for her!" Jubilee said cheerfully.
"I'm not buying any of it…" Ororo said crossing her arms.
"Oh 'Ro you're bitter cause it's a wedding just do what I'm doing. Drink until life seems pretty."
"No it's not that Ali but thanks for the reminder." Ororo rolled her eyes in vain.
"Did you see the intensity? If we weren't here she would have flipped him on this table and rode him right there." Ali gave her mental play by play.
"I'll cheer to that!" Tessa banged her glass to Ali's.
"I agree with Tessa, he's so caring towards her I think it's dreamy." Jubilee said in awe.
"Mmmhm" Ororo mumbled "I don't doubt that, I've been witnessing it live for the last month, but this is far from that." she pointed to the couple. "Too quick too intimate not buying it."
Ororo was beyond livid to be at a wedding reception so soon after her failed relationship with Logan. In addition the woman who caused it was her own blood and sitting at the center table. Her horrid wedding ceremony became the eagles eye of the night, pity glances were delivered to Ororo from numerous guest. Because of it she was tense and on her third scotch so her words came out more brutal then usual. What she wouldn't give for two shots of that blue ecstasy.
"This whole world is…none of this is making sense." Ororo pitched down some more of her drink. From the bottom of her glass she could see Jean getting up to wander away into a back hall.
"Maybe you should slow down before we hit a storm?" Ali pulled down Ororo's arm with the glass.
"Yea you're right, I'm going to go to the bathroom fresh'n up, then some dancing?" Ororo grinned at the girls and parted from the table in a rush.
The remaining three sister made eyes at one another at Ororo's strange get away but lost their train of thought due to the overwhelming seed of jealously from seeing Remy dip Anna and the joyful giggles she gave in response.
"Lucky bitch." The utterance of Ali spoke for the whole table.
Front and centre of the dance floor Remy held Anna close and glided with her effortlessly around the dim light dance floor. Anna shied away blushing with outbursts of laughter, she twirled, excited that the attention had shifted to her completely for the first time that evening. Reeling her in from a dip Anna rested her head in the nook of Remy neck, easing her weight into his body. She held him tightly as if he was a dream she wished would never end.
"You almost blew it at the table." Remy whispered.
"You started it." She touched the top of his nose, taking her finger Remy kissed.
She looked precious the way she trusted him enough to let the strain she carried go and rest comfortably in his arms. Remy had to admit that she laid comfortably into his arms. There could have been a billion people surrounding them and he wouldn't have mind. Even though she was complex for his world, there was a simplicity about her and it subdued him.
Trying to stay on track was a difficult pursuit but Remy made the effort not that his mind stayed on track. The motion Remy rocked her was a passionate sway that mellowed her often tempered sprit. And for the same reason Remy found solace in her smooth aroma, inviting him.
"Can't make anymore hiccups."
"No more hiccups..." Anna's eyes got lazy, as she slowly faded in Remy's arms.
"If you want them to believe you're my girl we gotta stay synced."
"I'm you're girl."
It was a mix between a question and statement. Remy didn't want to assume and try to answer, but his body tangled with hers as he lowered his head to hers. "Say it again." Remy words floated softly to her core. He paused and waited for the answer of something he was unsure he cared to hear.
She would tempt to do no such thing. Anna lifted her head and rested her forehead to his. Moving their heads to their own rhythm Anna wrapped her arms around Remy's neck and held there. It would have been a prime moment to seal their lips to one another's but that would violate their rules. No matter how tempting his lips looked to Anna or how delicious her plump ones taunted Remy.
Smoothing down Remy's hair Anna tried to focus elsewhere then his hidden eyes and moist lips. She peaked over his shoulder and saw a frightening face.
"Holy shit." Her mouth dropped open.
Down the hall and around the corner, the light in the single over head fixture flickered for the third time in the small two stall bathroom. Ororo sat up on the counter with her legs cross her hair pushed to one side she sat like a fallen goddess. Weary and weak, she brushed away another tear for her tender cheek. It couldn't be helped, Ororo never thought it would have come to this and she had no strength to deal with any of it, so the tears came in abundance. She listened in on the stall as the woman stayed crouched down on all fours barfing between dry heaving.
Coughing exhumed from the stall followed by the woman struggling to stand. Ororo quickly cleared her face of any tears or sign of pain. She slid from the counter and stood like royalty next to the sink.
Jean stumbled out of the bathroom stall and rested against the door. Her stomach wasn't doing well. All the aromas from the dining room was leaving a disgusted taste in her mouth.
When her head popped up to see the scorned face of her sister, her heart fell to the deep pits of her bowels.
"You're pregnant." Ororo wasn't asking but telling.
Ororo nostrils flared in hatred at her sister Jean. The betrayal in her voice was undoing. What could Jean say, she felt hopeless because there were no words to make the situation better.
"You keeping it?" Ororo asked switching her weight to one side, tapping her stiletto.
Jean couldn't muster the word yes let alone look her sister in the eye.
"That's all you have to say." Ororo turned to door when Jean called out.
"Ororo…"
"Don't Jean, don't speak…" Ororo turned and shoot a dangerous vicious glare at her sister. "Never even so much as glance in my direction as long as you walk this earth." She was dramatic in her exit, shading her pain with her hair.
Before she turned the corner Ororo wiped her eyes and runny nose, she fanned her face collecting her thoughts. Her long slender legs turned the corner and bumped right into Jubilee.
"'Ro! Omg we have been looking for you, we gotta go!"
"Why?" Ororo said in a fret that someone was hurt.
"I'm really tried and I want to go back to the guest house."
"So go." Ororo said simply and stepped past her.
"Yes but i'm scared."
"Jubilee you're seventeen. It's time to grow up."
"But I wanted to talk you."
Ororo laughed because she was clearly lying. "About what firecracker?"
"I want to have sex." Jubilee blurted out.
"You are already having sex…" Ororo stopped point blank and stared at her. "We all know give up the virgin glory stuff already." She pushed past Jubilee again.
"'Ro!" Jubilee freaked and threw a glass of wine on her vintage dress.
"Ughh! Jubilee!" she shoved her baby sister and stormed away, her two thousand dollar dress ruined.
In the distance Anna spotted a fuming Ororo. "We got a storm." She said to Tessa Remy and Ali.
"'Ro!" Tessa and Anna went toward her
"Shut up and get out of my way! why is everyone crowding me!"
"Stop! Please wait!" the sisters yelled.
"What?" Ororo freaked out. "What is so damn important!" She shouted, the music luckily taking some of the resistance away from her voice, leaving only the minor few to hear or catch.
She was so frustrated she could spit. Glaring at her siblings they saw that something more was causing her turmoil. Tears clouded her eyes, she needed air. Ororo faced her sisters but saw only their horrified expressions. Ororo felt as if she had a demon hounding her back.
To her surprise, it was her devil standing like a cool glass of water on a hot summer night.